What is the issue?
- Recently, deaths due to pesticide spraying has been reported.
- This has brought the focus on the pending ‘Pesticide Management Bill’ that seeks to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968.
What are the highlights of the bill?
- The bill seeks to improve the regulations in the manufacture, inspection, testing and distribution of pesticides.
- It proposes a system of licensing and also sets the criteria for classifying pesticides as misbranded, sub-standard, or spurious.
- Constituting a Central Pesticides Board to advise the government on pesticide related regulation is also among its provisions.
- Fixation of tolerance limits by FSSAI for pesticide residues on crops and commodities is touted to become mandatory.
- State governments are envisioned to implement the set-up.
What are the changes being considered?
- The Bill defines a pesticide as any substance used to destroy or control pests in agricultural commodities or animal feeds.
- So, pesticides used for non-agricultural purposes, such as health care, are outside the ambit.
- Hence, the Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended that a broader definition for the same.
- While FSSAI has been mandated for fixation of residual pesticide limits, the relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act are yet to be enforced.
- Also, the Bill does not specify penalties for pesticide inspectors or currently – which needs alteration.
Source: PRS
